Should I go straight to Peds? Or MedSurg first?

Published Oct 21, 2019

Career Columnist / Author

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Nurse Beth,
I am sorry for my English, I speak French but I can't find good resources in my language... and I love your website.

My question is: I would like to work in pediatrics. Currently, I work in a rehab Unit (with a few medicine patients). Before I have worked six months on a Surgery Unit and I must admit it was tough. It's been 2 yrs since I've started in rehab, and our unit will be closed very soon and I'm wanting take the opportunity to change. The thing is, I'm afraid that it would be too difficult to go from rehab to pediatrics...

Do you think I should first go to med/surg before to switch to pediatrics?

Is pediatrics a step further from adult care or is it "just" different? I know I must be rigorous and exact and have lots of knowledges..

I am a mother of a 6 months baby, and I thought it could help me (for the knowledges).

What do you advise me to gain competences that I could use in pediatrics?

(in my country we cannot study to be specialized in pediatrics before to work in the unit) At this moment, I am very tired of working with old people... and the surgery unit in my hospital really does not appeal me (bad experience in internship)...

Dear Needs Change,

The question is whether pediatric nursing builds on MedSurg nursing skills enough to warrant doing MedSurg before going to Pediatrics.

Some skills you learn on MedSurg, such as time management, are transferable.

At the same time, you would have to unlearn adult assessment skills and interventions, because children are not little adults- they're a specialty of their own. All medications are weight-based, and they present differently. In Peds, you will also have to learn to deal with parents as well as your patients, which is a learned skill.

Consider shadowing a Peds nurse if you have the opportunity. I would recommend going straight to Peds if that's your goal.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!